The political crisis in Terschelling continues. The only two members of the municipality announced their resignation. Gia van Essen (local interest Terschelling) and Jelte Hoekstra (VVD) said on Wednesday evening that they lack support and trust from the municipal council.

“We had a difficult time with the management crisis,” Van Essen said. “But the poison cup is clearly not yet empty for you. You’re not giving the local councilors any time to recover. And a new council is doing well, and there’s no time to get down to business. You’re being too callous at this.”

According to Van Essen, the council is behaving like a “bully” towards local councillors. She referred to the crises in the Netherlands. “But you think you know for sure that the delay that is occurring here is due to the poor performance of the organization and the responsible advisors.”

“You don’t want to accept a plausible explanation that it’s more complicated than that,” van Essen says. “Your conviction is already ready. There is another vote of no confidence in the portfolio.”

Hoekstra, a VVD council member who has held the position for ten years, spoke of the council “constantly attacking us,” citing Omrup Friesland.

In December, Mayor Caroline van der Poel (VVD) left, and was heavily criticized for a breakdown in relations between her and the municipal council. During an additional council meeting on the matter, she received a phone call offering to become mayor of Castricum. After returning to the council chamber, she announced, to the surprise of those present, that she had another job and was leaving. The council then decided that she must resign immediately.

The Terscheling council members, together with acting mayor Roel Casimir, make up the Terschelling council. At the request of the municipal council, they will continue to play this role for another month to give the coalition parties enough time to nominate new council members.